IRISH OPEN: Late slip for Howell

BROOME Manor professional David Howell suffered a late slip on his penultimate hole to end the opening day of the Irish Open one-over par.

Howell hit two birdies during his first 18 holes at the Fota Island course near Cork after starting his round at the 10th, but three bogeys, including one at the eighth, saw him drift over par.

The Alfred Dunhill Links winner sunk a putt for par on his opening hole, the 10th, before picking up his first shot of the day with a birdie two at the 11th. Back to back bogeys at 13 and 14 set him back, before a birdie on the 18th put him back level again at the turn.

That’s how Howell stayed after seven pars followed, before his bogey at the eighth say him slip back over par.

Howell sits tied for 80th after the first round and begins his second set of 18 holes at 9am UK time alongside Marc Warren and Eduardo De La Riva.

Miko Illonen leads the tournament on seven-under, two shots clear of Marcel Siem, Robert Karlsson and Magnus Carlsson.